New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
BOOKS UPON ART.

BOOKS UPON AMI.
sorrs UPON CERTAIN MASTERS OF THE NINE
TEENTH CENTURY. Translated from the Frencn
Of ALBERT woLFR. PIP LOG. Privately printed oy
". T. Walters.
rHE ETCHINGs AND OTHER PRINTS OF JEAS
FRANCOIS MILLET Translated from the rfer N,s
ALFRED LtpEUN by FREnETIcR kh lnarste S DID, 6I
and q Sketch OF the Artists Lie liius""'eu Pp VA
Frederick Keppel & Co.
PRINCIPLES OF ART. BY JOHN VAN DYKE fords'
Howard Hubert 12mo PIP 29i'
The occasion of NJ. VOLTS sympathetic comments
upon the French masters of the century was the
publication of a collection Of etchings reproducing
the q Hundred Masferpieces exhibited in Paris IN
1883. This collection was worthy memorial Oh an
artistic event of the first Importance but the
edition was small and the text, necessarily
eubordinated. was not overwhelmingly 10 was
USUALLY unread. Knowing this, aud recognizing
the eoquence and fascination" of the text IL mas
occurred to Mr.. Walters that Z" reproduction Oh
passages treating of the modern masters IN So'iie
such form as the present would be interesting "
neopie who are afforded an opportunity Of study
inx representative works of the masters Oh "hoh
NJ Wolff has written" Mr. Walters, therefore
has rescued NJ. VOLTS text from comparative
neglect in this beautiful little volume, privately
printed for presentation to friends and to serious
amateurs of art. We have had plenty OF critical
writing concerning the phalanx of 1890" and ex-
amples of Delscroix, Millet, Rousseau, Cofof'
Troyou Daubigny, Diaz Decamps and Fromentil
are to be found IN many American collections. buV
between the usual magazine criticism ana NJ
VOLTS personal Introduction to these artists there
"a as much difference as between the examples In
ordinary collections and those in Mr.. waitress
gallery. With most of these artists NJ WON ilVeu
en- terms of personal intimacy. lie knew their
ambitions and their dsappoiniments; be was aoIe
to follow them through the periods of struggle OF
deve lopment and final triumph. he learned 1rom
the lips o! the artists the principles Tor which they
contended, he understood the influences brought TO
bear upon them, and in his daily contact he could
measure the quality of their manhood. 1t is not as
the critic only that NJ. Wolff speaks, but as COLL
panion and friend, and the insight which he affords
into the personality of these artists is an Invaluable
and to comprehension of the greatest group OF
artists of our century. The personal character OF
these chapters of kindly criticism and rem-
nisccnces makes them always interesting. NJ Wolff
is charming. vvacious writer, and he has been
adequately translated by the late Earl Shinn. We
recall no volume IN English which affords in so
iimte1 space so intimate and just knowledge
of the "men of 1890" All these artists-and
Iupre and Meissonier also, to whom NJ. Woln
deyotes entertaining chapters-are represented in
MI, Walterss gallery by examples which illustrate
with distinction tho grounds for NJ. VOLTS
eulogies Delacroix's "Christ on the Cross and
. Jesus on the Sea of Gallee," Milefs |" Sheepfod"
and Troyons Cattle Drinking" which were anonp
the Hundred Masterpieces" especially considered
by NJ. WOLF, are now in the Walters collection. 1t
Is valuable privilege to see representative ex-
AMPLE of all these artists with NJ. Wolff as com
panion. With them is to DO ranked Barge, and Mr.
Walters, whose gallery of Barge bronzes is the
desI air Of our amateurs has included in this
volume a discussion of Barye by NJ uustave PlaDche
which may be commended to those who desire an
Intelligent acquaintance with the great sculptor.
This volume, with its large paper. fine tvpograr by
neat initial letters head and tail pieces, and white
paper covers, daintilv printed in coors is charm
ing specimen OF book-nakng. Its appearance is
worth noting not only Tor its intrinsic value, but
also rs another instance of generous desire to
increase correct appreciation OF art in this country
The private printing of most of our collectors be-
gins and ends with catalogue. Within the last
three or four years We have been indebted to Mr.
Walters for a convenient handbook upon Oriental
art, q stimulus and help to further study for
book upon Barge containing authoritative criti-
csms by French Writers; for " Book of the Per
cheron Horse" a valuable aud beautiful volume;
and for the book here considered As the colec-
tions which are the results of a lifetime of serious
study have also been generously made accessible to
the public, il Is only inst to acknowledge the sub
stantIal encouragement which the progress Of art
in this country has received from Mr. W. Il.
Walters.
In M. VOLTS text we lind Millet considered as a
painter slone Mr. Frederick Keppe has followed
up his Millet exhibition with appropriate little
volume which forms valuable memorial of the
artist as an etcher We have had In English no
catalogue of Millets etched work. and there has
been bu. one authoritative catalogue in French.
This was prepared by NJ. Alfred Lebrun, the friend
of Sensier and Miet whose collection, correctly
described we believe, as the only complete one in
existence was purchased by Mr.. KeppeL To his
translation of the Lebrun catalogue Mr.. keppel has
preixed q we'll written, Jerse and thvrough lily ap-
preciatIye sketch of Milet Tho catalogue includes
the Autographs, photographs and wood en2raviDgs
as we'll as the etchings the entire Lebrun collec-
ton, and the descriptions full aud authorita-
tive. The book of course will be the standard for
American amateurs of MIllets etched work, and its
interest is enhanced by good reproductions in
photographers. The frontspiece is the portrait OF
Millet drawn by himself in 1s47, and the reproduc-
tons include his ii ST etching, Vessel under Sail
the Men Digging" the "Goose Herd" the
Spinner" the unique Autograph, Where can c
be-" and wood engraving. the " Little Shepherd
es.." Mr. Kcppeps evident desire to present the
catalogue in appropriate form will be appreciated
hy amateurs. We can fancy that he has searched
for old paper as anxiousy fastdious etcher, and
the paper which he has used might have taken hall
q century to obtain its mellow tone In design and
execution this pretty little volume is a credit to
Mr. Kcpreis taste aud an Indication of q genuine
wish to pay a lifting tribute to great art.
Mr.. Van Dyke has written an interesting book
containing q valuable fund of suggestion and in
struction for a popular audience. We cannot
however. take tho author quite as seriously as he
eyidsnfy wishes to be taken. Not long ago il W nj
said by an Engllsh writer upon medieval ar
which he incidentally defined as q reflection OF
every side OF life"-tb the history of the
s:nu Of Iha nrts. or. IL yan Ike tie suconasnn O